#949B: Emma Sloley “The Island of Last Things” a novel set in the dystopian future, centered on a friendship between two women at the Alcatraz Island zoo, the last zoo in the world, who have different ideas about managing the animals.

#949A: Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins rejoins Tracie to set the record straight about the extreme harm of feeding carbohydrates to kitties, because an old [flawed] study of carb-heavy cat foods is being trotted out to promote and defend carbohydrate-based foods for obligate carnivores. Could the pet food industry finally be reacting to their years of advocacy against "kitty krack?"!

#948B: Dr. Andy Roark, the “relentlessly optimistic” philosopher veterinarian (The Cone of Shame podcast and Dr. Andy Roark blog) talks about optimizing communication between pet owners and doctors for the best medical and personal outcomes. 

#948A: Helen St Pierre, co-author of “Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One,” talks about her sanctuary Old Dogs Go to Helen and advice about making a senior dog’s life more comfortable with or without the addition of a puppy, and practical considerations about euthanasia.

#947B: Chas Worthy talks about how he and his brother founded the pet food company Birdie & Louie with the intention of bringing premium pet food that is affordable and accessible to “everyday people” like themselves — putting high quality ingredients inside top shelf design and packaging — to reach people who shop at big box stores and 7-11.

#947A: Andrew Rowan, whose Wellbeing International publication covers the world of animals globally, talks about the wildly exaggerated numbers of community cats and how collaboration between cat lovers and environmentalists is needed, instead of high emotions and misinformation.

#946B: Dr Cynthia Otto [Director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center and Professor of Working Dog Sciences & Sports Medicine] knows a thing or two about the dangers of heatstroke for dogs, particularly ones who are active outdoors as military or Search & Rescue working dogs. But for pets, when the ground and air outside are really hot for you, it’s too hot for dogs! No hiking! No jogging! Dogs can collapse (and die) from heatstroke. Dr. Otto did a study on the best way to cool down a dog in a heat emergency: Dunk their head!

#946A: A story of triumph over tragedy. Jim Scott and his wife Janet sold Wellness pet foods (the very first truly holistic recipes) to look after their sons, who both had been in life-altering accidents — but then created an even more premium pet food — RAWZ — so they could give away 100% of their profits in gratitude for all they still had.

#945B: Stella Hayward’s novel “The Good Boy” sets up the problem of how to put the genie back in the bottle if your wish for a boyfriend as great as your Golden Retriever comes true — and now you have a naked blonde man in your dog bed?!

#945A: Dr Evan Zhao talks about developing Pacagen with his wife, Dr. Siyang Han, who turned out to be allergic to their "pandemic pussy cat,” which inspired the two scientists to look for an effective anti-allergen — and they found it in the unique immune system of Alpacas!